Deaths are reported to the coroner by every law enforcement official, funeral director, ambulance attendant, hospital director, administrator, or person having custody of the body. Any physician in attendance upon such a decedent at the time of his/her death, shall also notify the coroner promptly.

Every coroner, as soon as they have completed their investigation of the cause and circumstances to a death occurring within their jurisdiction, shall complete the medical portion of the death certificate.

The Coroner’s Office never issues the death certificate. A death certificate can be obtained by contacting your funeral home of by requesting one from Wyoming Vitals and Statistics.

An autopsy is a surgical procedure (internal and external examination of the body) used to aid the coroner in establishing a cause of death in those cases where the cause cannot be established with a reasonable degree of certainty without an autopsy or mandated by state statue.

An autopsy is performed by a licensed forensic pathologist. Presently, there is no licensed forensic pathologist practicing in Wyoming. Therefore, the body is taken by our office to an outside hospital where our staff participates in the autopsy and returns with the body the same day.

At the time of autopsy, the forensic pathologist collects tissue slides, toxicology, and other medical information. Putting together all this information takes time, up to six to eight weeks or more. The immediate family can request a copy of the autopsy in writing from:Coroner's Office200 N. Center, Room #10Casper, WY 82601

No. The coroner may order an autopsy to be performed in any case deemed necessary. In matters of death investigation, the coroner has absolute and complete authority and unlimited powers to investigate, order chemical analysis of body tissues, and collaborate with law enforcement.

It is also the practice of the Natrona County coroner to include immediate family members in the steps taken in the investigation to inform and educate them as the investigation progresses.

The family needs to be involved in the questions of why, what, where, and how surrounding the death of their loved one. The coroner will make every effort to inform the family of any new findings or results of the autopsy.